• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2005

An explosion modeling technique was developed by using the spherical discrete element code, $PFC^{3D}$, which can be used to model the dynamic stress wave propagation phenomenon. The modeling technique is simply based on an idea that the explosion pressure should be applied to a $PFC^{3D}$ particle assembly not in the form of an external force (body force), but in the form of a contact force (surface force). A test blast was conducted for a RC column, whose dimension was $600\times300\times1800$ in millimeters. The initial velocities of the surface movements were measured to be in the range of $14\~18\;m/s$ with the initiation times of $1.5\~2.0m$. Then the blasting procedure was simulated by using the modeling technique. The particle assembly representing the concrete was made of cement mortar and coarse aggregates, whose mirco-properties were obtained from the calibration processes. As a result, the modeling technique developed in this study made it possible for the burden to move with the velocity of $17\~24\;m/s$, which are slightly higher values compared to those of the test blast.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.695-701
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• 2015

Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs) can be largely divided into the passive-standby, line-interactive and double-conversion methods. This paper proposes a double-conversion UPS with a low cost and high performance. This single phase UPS uses a single-loop robust voltage controller and 1-switch voltage doubler strategy PFC. The proposed UPS is composed of a single phase PFC, a half-bridge inverter, a battery charger and a battery discharger. Finally, the validity of proposed UPS was verified by various experimental tests.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.320-334
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• 2020

This study presents an application of hydro-mechanical coupled Particle Flow Code 3D (PFC3D) to simulation of fluid injection induced fault slip experiment conducted in Mont Terri Switzerland as a part of a task in an international research project DECOVALEX-2019. We also aimed as identifying the current limitations of the modelling method and issues for further development. A fluid flow algorithm was developed and implemented in a 3D pore-pipe network model in a 3D bonded particle assembly using PFC3D v5, and was applied to Mont Terri Step 2 minor fault activation experiment. The simulated results showed that the injected fluid migrates through the permeable fault zone and induces fault deformation, demonstrating a full hydro-mechanical coupled behavior. The simulated results were, however, partially matching with the field measurement. The simulated pressure build-up at the monitoring location showed linear and progressive increase, whereas the field measurement showed an abrupt increase associated with the fault slip We conclude that such difference between the modelling and the field test is due to the structure of the fault in the model which was represented as a combination of damage zone and core fractures. The modelled fault is likely larger in size than the real fault in Mont Terri site. Therefore, the modelled fault allows several path ways of fluid flow from the injection location to the pressure monitoring location, leading to smooth pressure build-up at the monitoring location while the injection pressure increases, and an early start of pressure decay even before the injection pressure reaches the maximum. We also conclude that the clay filling in the real fault could have acted as a fluid barrier which may have resulted in formation of fluid over-pressurization locally in the fault. Unlike the pressure result, the simulated fault deformations were matching with the field measurements. A better way of modelling a heterogeneous clay-filled fault structure with a narrow zone should be studied further to improve the applicability of the modelling method to fluid injection induced fault activation.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.262-272
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• 2015

An integrated two-in-one transformer applicable to PSUs for a 120 W LED TV is proposed. This transformer comprises a PFC inductor and an LLC transformer placed and integrated on an E-I-E type magnetic core. Performance is evaluated by observing the coupling coefficients of the proposed two-in-one transformer under various air gap topologies. Among the topologies studied, an integrated transformer with centered air gap shows stable operational characteristics with a minimized mutual coupling (interference). Furthermore, applicability of the proposed integrated transformer to PSUs for a 120 W LED TV is studied from the viewpoint of integrating different magnetic components into one core, resulting to low weight, low cost, and high power density.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.214-222
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• 2015

The superiority of gallium nitride FET (GaN FET) over silicon MOSFET is examined in this paper. One of the outstanding features of GaN FET is low reverse-recovery charge, which enables continuous conduction mode operation of totem-pole bridgeless boost power factor correction (PFC) circuit. Among many bridgeless topologies, totem-pole bridgeless shows high efficiency and low conducted electromagnetic interference performance, with low cost and simple control scheme. The operation principle, control scheme, and circuit implementation of the proposed topology are provided. The converter is driven in two-module interleaved topology to operate at a power level of 5.5 kW, whereas phase-shedding control is adopted for light load efficiency improvement. Negative bias circuit is used in gate drivers to avoid the shoot-through induced by high speed switching. The superiority of GaN FET is verified by constructing a 5.5 kW prototype of two-module interleaved totem-pole bridgeless boost PFC converter. The experiment results show the highest efficiency of 98.7% at 1.6 kW load and an efficiency of 97.7% at the rated load.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2015

Recently, as the demand for development and utilization of underground space is increasing worldwide, the blast damaged zone has become a major issue in constructing underground structures. In this study, numerical analyses were performed for modelling a small-scale blasting of rock plates using PFC3D and ANSYS LS-DYNA. In order to verify the analysis results, several test blasts were conducted. It is concluded from the study that the numerical modelling methods well simulate the crack propagation procedure near blast holes under given conditions.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.68 no.4
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• pp.497-505
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• 2018

Three points bending flexural test was modeled numerically to study the crack propagation in the pre-cracked beams. The pre-existing edge cracks in the beam models were considered to investigate the crack propagation and coalescence paths within the modeled samples. The effects of particle size on the single edge-notched round bar in bending test were considered too. The results show that Failure pattern is constant by increasing the ball diameter. Tensile cracks are dominant mode of failure. These crack initiates from notch tip, propagate parallel to loading axis and coalescence with upper model boundary. Number of cracks increase by decreasing the ball diameter. Also, tensile fracture toughness was decreased with increasing the particle size. In the present study, the influences of particles sizes on the cracks propagations and coalescences in the brittle materials such as rocks and concretes are numerically analyzed by using a three dimensional particle flow code (PFC3D). These analyses improve the understanding of the stability of rocks and concretes structures such as rock slopes, tunnel constructions and underground openings.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.71-84
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• 2023

In this paper, the effects of the thickness of cubic samples on the tensile strength of concrete blocks were studied using experimental tests in the laboratory and numerical simulation by the particle flow code in three dimensions (PFC3D). Firstly, the physical concrete blocks with dimensions of 150 mm×190 mm (width×height) were prepared. Then, three specimens for each of seven different samples with various thicknesses were built in the laboratory. Simultaneously with the experimental tests, their numerical simulations were performed with PFC3D models. The widths, heights, and thicknesses of the numerical models were the same as those of the experimental samples. These samples were tested with a new tensile testing apparatus. The loading rate was kept at 1 kg/sec during the testing operation. Based on these analyses, it is concluded that when the thickness was less than 5 cm, the tensile strength decreased by increasing the sample thickness. On the other hand, the tensile strength was nearly constant when the sample thickness was raised to more than 5 cm (which can be regarded as a threshold limit for the specimens' thickness). The numerical outputs were similar to the experimental results, demonstrating the validity of the present analyses.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.357-366
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• 2021

Shear behavior dependent on the shape and roughness of rock joints can greatly influence the stability of the ground and rock structures. The efficient design of rock structures requires understanding of the shear behavior due to joints and accurate calculation of the shear strength. This work reports numerical shear tests using PFC2D on No. 1 (JCR-1), with smooth joints, and No. 7 (JRC-7) and No. 9 (JRC-9), with relatively rough joints, for the 10 shapes of standard joint profiles proposed by Barton and Choubey (1977). The aim was to investigate the shear behavior of rock joints with respect to their roughness. The results show the maximum shear stress to be about 3.2 to 5.0 times greater in the rougher JRC-7 and JRC-9 joints than in smoother JRC-1. The maximum shear displacement was approximately 4.1 to 5.8 times greater at the first normal stress than at the second. The rougher joints showed friction angles of the rock joints that were approximately 1.8 to 3.9 times greater than that in the smooth joint. Overall, increasing the rock joint roughness increased the maximum shear stress and friction angle.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.455-466
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• 2020

This paper presents analysis of the interaction between tunnel and Qanat with a particular interest for the optimization of Qanat shape using the discrete element code, PFC2D, and the results will be compared with the FEM results of PLAXIS2D. For these concerns, using software PFC2D based on Discrete Element Method (DEM), a model with dimension of 100m ^⁎ 100 m was prepared. A circular tunnel with dimension of 9 m was situated 20 m below the ground surface. Also one Qanat was situated perpendicularly above the tunnel roof. Distance between Qanat center and ground surface was 8 m. Five different shapes for Qanat were selected i.e., square, semi-circular, vertical ellipse, circular and horizontal ellipse. Confining pressure of 5 MPa was applied to the model. The vertical displacement of balls situated in ground surface was picked up to measure the ground subsidence. Also two measuring circles were situated at the tunnel roof and at the Qanat roof to check the vertical displacements. The properties of the alluvial soil of Tehran city are: γ_dry=19 (KN/㎥), E= 750 (kg/㎠), ν=0.35, c=0.3(kg/㎠), φ=34°. In order to validate the DEM results, a comparison between the numerical results (obtained in this study) and analytical and field monitoring have been done. The PFC2D results are compared with the FEM results. The results shows that when Qanat has rectangular shape, the tensile stress concentration at the Qanat corners has maximum value while it has minimum value for vertical ellipse shape. The ground subsidence for Qanat rectangular shape has maximum value while it has minimum value for ellipse shape of Qanat. The vertical displacements at the tunnel roof for Qanat rectangular shape has maximum value while it has minimum value for ellipse shape of Qanat. Historical shape of Qante approved the finding of this research.